For this Memorial Day we present a solemn sentiment reflecting the tattered state of the Republic, which is shorn to pieces by cultural and political strife. At no time since my first eligible-to-vote Presidential election have I seen such fractious and contentious state of the electorate or the representatives in Washington, D.C.
Worst of all is my profession. The Fourth Estate has abandoned its duty to protect the public interest. Subjective reporting and editorialization define modern journalism. The Fifth Estate, which includes new media and online informational utilities (e.g., Facebook, Google, Twitter, and the like), is worse because of rampant censorship. Patronizing tactics choose for you, because presumably you’re not smart enough to sift fact from fiction. I would mind less if professional news gatherers reported responsibly more.
I can’t say why my San Diego neighbor flies this shredded American Flag, but its condition could be a metaphor for the current state of affairs. On May 21, 2022, I used Leica Q2 to capture the Featured Image, which is nearly a 100-percent crop. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/8, ISO 100, 1/640 sec, 28mm; 12:44 p.m. PDT.